← New search

1990 Mercury Cougar

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Cougar years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 4 of 86 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports9 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

86 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #735763

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED CAUSING WATER AND ANIT-FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE MOTOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE NO HEAT. SLC

NHTSA ODI #785219

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2000
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRAC/ IT COMPLETELY FAILED/ WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION, CAUSING LOSS OF SHOULDER RESTRAINT AND PROTECTION. POSSIBLY CAUSED BY FAILURE OF MOTOR OR BELTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #873486

Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Electrical System

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #734140

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2000
Seat Belts

ALSO THE FIRST YEAR I OWNED THE CAR, THE PAINT ON THE FRONT BUMPER STARTED COMING OFF, AND THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT MOTOR WAS REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #730731

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REPLACED ACCUMULATOR ON THE ABS ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING 40+ MILES PER HOUR. FOLLOWING THIS PERFORMED ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND HYDRALIC AND PUMP ASSEMBLY LEAKING RENDERING THE CAR UNROADWORTHY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ADVISED THE ABS FAILURE IS A REPORTABLE SAFETY CO…

Read full complaint

REPLACED ACCUMULATOR ON THE ABS ASSEMBLY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING 40+ MILES PER HOUR. FOLLOWING THIS PERFORMED ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND HYDRALIC AND PUMP ASSEMBLY LEAKING RENDERING THE CAR UNROADWORTHY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. ADVISED THE ABS FAILURE IS A REPORTABLE SAFETY CONCERN AND MAY BE A BASIS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF COST FROM MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #722951

Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2000
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 60 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL NOT BEING ENGAGED, ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF. THIS PROBLEM ALSO OCCURRED ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS AT 30-35 MPH. DEALER REPLACED THROTTLE CONTROL VALVE AND CLEANED OUT THROTTLE BODY. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #860625

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIE 3.8 ENG IS THE SAME AS THE RECALLS ON OTHER FORD VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721311

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2000
Exterior Lighting

THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON A FEW OCCASSION AND THEN LATER THEY WENT OFF AND ON. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT AND YOU WOULD CREATE OR BE IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS UNTIL MY BROTHER BORROWED THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND THE PROBLEM RETURNED .…

Read full complaint

THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED ON A FEW OCCASSION AND THEN LATER THEY WENT OFF AND ON. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR FOR FEAR THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT AND YOU WOULD CREATE OR BE IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS UNTIL MY BROTHER BORROWED THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND THE PROBLEM RETURNED . IT WAS VERY BAD THAT WEEK. THE LIGHTS WENT OUT AT LEAST ONCE EVERYDAY. I CHANGED THE HEADLIGHT BULB AND CHECKED THE GROUNDS, THE WIRING SYSTEM FOR LOOSE WIRE. I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. I WENT TO THE PART STORE TO INQUIRE IF THEY HAD ANY IDEA WHAT COULD BE WRONG AND THEY SAID "IS IT A FORD PRODUCT". I SAID YES AND THEY SAID FORD HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHT SWITCHES. I COULDN'T IMAGINE ANYTHING AS SERIOUS AS THIS PROBLEM WHICH THEY CLASSIFIED AS A KNOW PROBLEM AND NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN. I CHANGED THE LIGHT SWITCH AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. I CAN'T IMAGINE A DEFECT MORE DANGEROUS THAN HAVING YOUR HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720869

Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2000
Seat Belts

I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHO I CAN TAKE IT TO REPAIR THE FRONT SEAT BELT. ITS THE MANUAL LAP PART THAT IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720218

Official recalls

3

96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 25, 1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

91V076000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

May 6, 1991

THE NUTS WHICH HOLD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO THE WIPER MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED AND MAY LOOSEN OR COME OFF. THIS CAUSES CHANGED WIPER PATTERNS, OR THE WIPERS MAY JAM IF TWO OF THE THREE NUTS COME OFF.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CHANGES IN THE WIPER PATTERN OR JAMMING OF THE WIPERSWOULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILTY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

Remedy: APPLY TORQUE RETENTION MATERIAL TO WIPER MOTOR STUDS AND NUTS AND RETORQUE.

90V026000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables

Feb 12, 1990

BATTERY TO STARTER CABLES ARE LONGER THAN SPECIFIED; EXCESSIVE CABLE LENGTH COULD CONTACT ENGINE DAMPER PULLEY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CABLE PROTECTIVE COVERING AND INSULATION COULD WEAR THROUGH AND CAUSE A DIRECT SHORT TO GROUND, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING OF THE CABLE INSULATION AND POSSIBLY A UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: REPLACE BATTERY TO STARTER CABLE WITH CORRECT LENGTH CABLE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

5

PE95019 · Faulty Seatbelt Buckles

Opened Mar 27, 1995 · Closed Jul 31, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

There is no summary currently available

EA93033 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing

Opened Dec 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE93075 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing

Opened Aug 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

EA90034 · Hood Latches Fail

Opened Jun 26, 1990 · Closed Feb 25, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE90073 · Hood Latches Fail

Opened Apr 11, 1990 · Closed Jun 26, 1990

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available